Uganda has reinforced its military presence in eastern Congo, deploying 1,000–2,000 additional troops near the M23 conflict zone. The move raises concerns over a regional escalation, as Uganda and Rwanda both have forces operating in the area amid growing instability.
Uganda has significantly increased its troop presence in eastern Congo, sending between 1,000 and 2,000 additional soldiers in the past week as part of Operation Shujaa, its joint mission with the Congolese army.
The reinforcements bring the total number of Ugandan troops in the region to between 4,000 and 5,000, according to diplomatic and U.N. sources. Uganda says the deployment is aimed at tackling the Islamist Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), but the troops are stationed near areas controlled by the M23 rebels, fueling concerns of further escalation.
The Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group has made significant territorial gains in eastern Congo, capturing the strategic city of Goma last month. The conflict has deepened regional tensions, with Rwanda and Uganda accused of backing opposing factions in the violence.
While Uganda officially supports Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi in combating armed groups, U.N. reports suggest that Ugandan forces have also had ties to M23, a claim Uganda denies.
Local residents in Butembo reported seeing Ugandan soldiers moving toward the M23 front lines in recent days. Uganda’s military spokesperson Felix Kulayigye denied the deployment was a major expansion, saying its forces had merely changed to a “posture of offensive defence” without providing further details.
Congo’s Communications Minister Patrick Muyaya emphasized that Uganda’s primary mission remains fighting the ADF, but acknowledged that clashes between Ugandan and Rwandan forces in the M23-controlled areas could not be ruled out.
With thousands of people displaced by the renewed fighting, regional leaders are under growing pressure to de-escalate tensions before the conflict spreads further.
The 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) opened in Baku with ministers, UN officials and urban policy leaders. Participants call for ...
Thousands of displaced families in Gaza are facing growing infestations of rats and insects as worsening sanita...
At least four people have been killed in a major Ukrainian drone attack on Russian territory, including the Moscow region, which authorities say fa...
The World Urban Forum (WUF) opens this week in Baku, Azerbaijan, bringing together governments, city leaders, urban planners, researchers and ...
China has launched the world’s first experiment to study how artificial human embryos develop in space, mark...
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), warning that the situation poses a significant risk of cross-border spread in Central Africa.
Ugandan authorities partially restored internet services after President Yoweri Museveni won a seventh term, extending his rule into a fifth decade.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 17th of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine said on Saturday that he escaped a raid by police and soldiers on his home, after authorities denied claims that he had been arrested following Uganda’s presidential election, which was won by veteran leader Yoweri Museveni in a landslide, according to the elector
Bulgaria has won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time, taking victory in a final overshadowed by a boycott over Israel’s participation and the war in Gaza.
At least eight people were injured after a driver rammed a car into pedestrians in the northern Italian city of Modena, authorities said on Saturday. Four of the victims were reported to be in serious condition.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington could destroy Iran’s infrastructure “in two days,” while Tehran warned the U.S. would face growing economic costs from the conflict. The remarks came as Hezbollah reported new attacks on Israeli forces despite an extended Lebanon ceasefire.
At least eight people have died and 32 others were injured after a freight train collided with a public bus at a railway crossing in Bangkok on Saturday (16 May), triggering a fire that quickly spread through the vehicle.
Iran’s Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that the U.S. military blockade of Iran’s southern ports could trigger a new global financial crisis as the Tehran-Washington standoff around the strategic Strait of Hormuz persists.
At least four people have been killed in a major Ukrainian drone attack on Russian territory, including the Moscow region, which authorities say faced its largest aerial assault in more than a year.
China has launched the world’s first experiment to study how artificial human embryos develop in space, marking a major step in understanding whether humans could one day reproduce beyond Earth.
Every day, an elderly woman in China’s Shandong province looks forward to a video call from her son. He asks about her health, tells her he has been busy with work, and promises he will come home once he has saved enough money. She tells him she misses him. He tells her to take care of herself.
Bulgaria has won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time, taking victory in a final overshadowed by a boycott over Israel’s participation and the war in Gaza.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), warning that the situation poses a significant risk of cross-border spread in Central Africa.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment